Well, it is war - but to officially declare war the president has to get approval from both houses, however they can authorise military operations for 60 days without going through the houses. When the 60 days is up they just authorise another 60 days. It really makes a mockery of democracy and the 'land of the free'. It's what they did for both world wars, Vietnam, Iraq and every other war since 1898.

It is very simple: Europeans have a dream and the name of this dream is America. Some Americans reflect this dream very strong. Bob is one of them.

Close. At the same time, I'm sure a lot of Europeans consider many Americans very dim bulbs - and the election of Trump rightly reinforces that sentiment, unfortunately.

But with Bob Dylan, yes, he reflects the best of America and the artistic freedom our democracy affords us.

The U.S. has no difficulty drawing immigrants from all over the world. Europe will have its own Trumps soon enough. Suffice it to say that it wasn't the European elites that emigrated to the U.S. to begin with.

A great alternative title to this thread might have been "Are Europeans Jealous that Bob Dylan is a Product of America and Not Europe?".

I would have thought that a large part of the appeal of Dylan to European audiences is the fact of his being American, so jealousy of his not being a product of Europe isn't part of the equation at all. What is most certainly part of the equation is the synergy created by Dylan's AMERICAN-NESS and the European audiences' EUROPEAN-NESS, that would by its very nature be different to that created by his relationship with American audiences.

If Dylan had been born in England in, say, Birmingham, he would have been considered a pretentious oik by audiences before they heard the first strum of his guitar. But as an American, he was different, and mysterious.

The who thing is pretty silly really, since Dylan has appreciative fans in Europe, North America and beyond. Must we really create yet another dividing line where really there is non?

There's certainly cultural and political differences, which are not to be ignored. And that's a great thing. For example, some people complain about Mexicans coming to America. They come looking for jobs and a better life - like all immigrants here. And they brought their fabulous Mexican food - what's not to like? For me, a great restaurant is more important than a church.

The who thing is pretty silly really, since Dylan has appreciative fans in Europe, North America and beyond. Must we really create yet another dividing line where really there is non?

There's certainly cultural and political differences, which are not to be ignored. And that's a great thing. For example, some people complain about Mexicans coming to America. They come looking for jobs and a better life - like all immigrants here. And they brought their fabulous Mexican food - what's not to like? For me, a great restaurant is more important than a church.

That's patronizing, isn't it? Real leftist stuff. You could say their art is interesting, their music is great, their devotion is deep, their impact on American culture is long and enduring. But it's about food!

A great alternative title to this thread might have been "Are Europeans Jealous that Bob Dylan is a Product of America and Not Europe?".

I would have thought that a large part of the appeal of Dylan to European audiences is the fact of his being American, so jealousy of his not being a product of Europe isn't part of the equation at all. What is most certainly part of the equation is the synergy created by Dylan's AMERICAN-NESS and the European audiences' EUROPEAN-NESS, that would by its very nature be different to that created by his relationship with American audiences.

If Dylan had been born in England in, say, Birmingham, he would have been considered a pretentious oik by audiences before they heard the first strum of his guitar. But as an American, he was different, and mysterious.

If Bob Dylan wasn't American he wouldn't be Bob Dylan.

Spot on, Little Mags, spot on. This answers the question originally posed, and all other questions since arising. Spot on!

The who thing is pretty silly really, since Dylan has appreciative fans in Europe, North America and beyond. Must we really create yet another dividing line where really there is non?

No, I don't think it's silly at all. Are you suggesting all his appreciative fans around the world appreciate Dylan in exactly the same way?

Obviously, the initial question "Do Europeans Appreciate Bob Dylan More Than Americans?" is silly. But discussion of the different ways fans from different nations appreciate Dylan is far from silly. There is no 'dividing line' being created, as you suggest - just a discussion of the nuances of dissimilarity in those who at first glance would appear to have similar taste.

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